Fuse connectors

ABSTRACT

A fuse connector has a fuse contact formed from sheet metal with a body having an apertured extension, a resilient tongue in the aperture engaging an end of a fuse cartridge, side portions along the aperture embracing sides of the cartridge, and a bar joining the side portions serves to limit deflection of the tongue. A housing houses the fuse connectors to provide a connector assembly and it has hinged cover means for access to the fuse; commoning strips may be employed to connect the fuse connectors with other selected connectors of the connector assembly.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Daniel Dumeige Pontoise, France 761,473

Sept. 23, 1968 May 18, 1971 AMP de France Pontoise, France Sept. 27,1967 France FUSE CONNECTORS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Field of Search 258, 252 (F), 256 (C), 259 (F), 262 (F), 217;

339/217, 337/229 Int. Cl H01r 11/22,

HOlh 85/22 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,724,729 8/ 1929Ruttenberg et al, 339/150X 2,738,485 3/1956 Batcheller 339/258 PrimaryExaminer-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. StaabAttorneys-Curtis, Morris and Safford, Marshall M.

Holcombe, William Hintze, William J. Keating, Frederick W. Raring, JohnR. Hopkins, Adrian J. La Rue and Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: A fuseconnector has a fuse contact formed from sheet metal with a body havingan apettured extension, a

resilient tongue in the aperture engaging an end of a fuse cartridge,side portions along the aperture embracing sides of the cartridge, and abar joining the side portions serves to limit deflection of the tongue.A housing houses the fuse connectors to provide a connector assembly andit has hinged cover 4 means for access to the fuse; commoning strips maybe employed to connect the fuse connectors with other selectedconnectors of the connector assembly.

PATENTED HAY 8197i 7 $579,179

sum 1 or z |NVEN TOR DANIEL oumzma PATVEVNTEDEMYVISVIVIQYI sumzu z'INVENTO R I DANIEL pumawz FUSE CONNECTORS This invention relates to fuseconnectors for cartridge fuses.

Cartridge fuses are generally of two similar types. A first typecomprises a cylindrical transparent envelope of glass or other insulatorcontaining internally an axially extending wire filament forming a fuseelement. The filament is connected at its ends to metal end caps closingends of the cylinder. A second type comprises a cylindrical body ofceramic or insulating material carrying an external conductive stripfuse element secured at opposite ends of the body by cap portionsintegral with the strip.

A fuse connector for a cartridge fuse, according to the presentinvention, comprises a sheet metal body formed with an aperture defininga pair of sidearms between which a resilient tab portion projects, thetab portion being integral with the body at one end and at its free endbeing arranged to engage an end of the cartridge fuse while sides of thecartridge end are received between the sidearms, ends of the sidearmsbeing integrally joined by a bar portion extending laterally of the tabportion adjacent its free end and arranged to limit deflection of thetabportion by engagement of the free end therewith.

The body of the connector is suitably formed as a plug or socket formating with a complementary socket or plug and the plug or socketportion is suitably formed for mounting in a housing passageway. in thisway, by engagement of the housing with a complementary housing, the fuseassociated with a pair of connectors may be releasably connected intocircuitry terminated at the complementary housing.

The invention also includes a fuse connector assembly comprising a pairof fuse connectors mounted in an insulating housing having a cavityconfined by a pair of spaced sidewalls, the bodies of the connectorsbeing mounted in respective passageways leading from the cavity and theapertured portions of the connectors being disposed within the cavitywith bar portions of the connectors adjacent respective sidewalls. lnsuch assembly the housing is suitably formed with a hinged cover for thecavity. 7

An object-of the invention is to provide a fuse connector provided witha fuse-connecting portion having an apertured tab for electricalengagement with a fuse end.

Another object is the provision of a fuse connector having sidearmsextending along sides of the tab thereby assisting in proper positioningof the end of the fuse into electrical engagement with the tab.

A further object is to provide a fuse connector having a channel-shapedfuse-connecting section which is provided with a base that is inclinedrearwardly and outwardly, the base being apertured thereby forming a tabhaving a section extending substantially parallel with respect to alongitudinal axis of the connector.

An additional object is the provision of a fuse connector wherein thesidearms are connected by a bar in alignment with a free end of the tabto overstressed.

A still further object is to provide a dielectric housing for the fuseconnectors to provide a fuse connector assembly with the housing havingintegrally formed hinged cover means for covering a cavity in whichspaced fused connectors are disposed for electrically connecting with afuse.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

prevent the tab from being FIG. 1 is a side view ofa fuse connectorformed with a plug contact portion;

H6. 2 is a part sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 1 and takenalong line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fuse connector assembly embodying apair of connectors according to FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional side view of the assembly ofHO. 3.

The connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a single piece of sheet metalrolled up from a blank to define a tubular body I. The body I has anopen seam 2 and is formed at one end with a plug contact portion 3having a latching detent 4 for releasably holding the body in aconnector passageway of a housing in known manner.

The body I at its other end is formed with a cartridge fuseconnectingportion 5 defined by a channel section tablikc ex tension of the body 1of greater width than the body I. As seen in FIG. 2, the base 6 of thechannel section is inclined rearwardly and outwardly in relation to thelength of the plug contact portion 3 and is formed with a rectangularaperture 7 extending through a major proportion of the extension lengthto define a pair of sidearms 8. The sidearms are of L-section havingside portions perpendicular to the channel base and narrow flangeportions generally parallel to the base of the channel section. Theflange portions serve to stiffen the sidearms 8.

A rectangular tab portion 9 is formed within the aperture 7 with one endof the tab portion integral with the body extension and extending awayfrom the body l within the aperture as a cantilever spring. As seen inFIG. 2, the tab portion 9 is bent up out of the aperture between thesidearms and at its free end is bent over to present an end edge 10directed toward the base of the channel section.

The arms 8 at their ends remote from the body 1 are integrally joined bya bar portion 1] extending laterally of the arms 8. The bar portion isin alignment with the free end of the tab portion 9 so as to be engagedby the edge 10 and limit movement of the free end/The tab portion isformed with a circular aperture or opening 12 adjacent the free end forembracing the end of a cartridge fuse as illustrated in FlGS.-3 and 4.

The connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 is suitably used-in a fuse assembly asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which a pair of such connectors are mounted inspaced relation in a housing 13 for receiving a cartridge fuse 14, shownin broken lines, between them. The housing I3 is suitably molded frominsulating material and comprises a block formed at opposite sides withcavities l5 closable by hinged covers 16 integrally formed with theblock. ln FIG. 3, one of the hinged covers 16 is in closed positionwhile the other is open to reveal one of the cavities 15. The cavities15 are separated by a central wall 17 containing a row of four connectorreceiving passageways 18, each arranged to receive a plug or socketconnector terminating a wire lead. The wire leads, not shown, arearranged to extend from the apertures at the upper ends of passagewaysl8 and through apertures defined by cooperating recesses 19 in adjacentedges of the hinged cover 16. The cavities l5.are confined betweenopposite sidewalls 20 of the housing which at their outer edges areformed with inwardly directed ribs 21 for releasably retaining thehinged covers in a snap fit.

The fuse connectors are mounted in respective passageways 22, formed inthe floors of the cavities 15 adjacent the sidewalls 20 with latchingdetents 4 engaging shoulders (not shown) in passageways 22. The plugcontact portions 3 of the connectors project into a recess formed in thelower side of the housing 13 for receiving a complementary housing (notshown) containing socket connectors for mating engagement with the plugcontact portions. The fuse contact portions of the connectors aredisposed within the cavity 15 with the bases of the channel sectionsfacing the adjacent sidewalls 20 of the housing. The bar portions 11 ofthe connectors engage the walls 20 to resist outward movement of-theupper ends on insertion of the cartridge fuse l4.

ln use, the cartridge fuse 14 is inserted downwardly into the cavity 15to engage the ends of the fuse cartridge between the spacedbar'portionsll of the connectors. Sides 8 of the channel section assistin proper positioning of the fuse cartridge which is moved downwards toengage the edges of the tab portions 9. The tab portions 9 are deflectedoutward to admit downward movement of the fuse cartridge until thecartridge ends engage respective apertures 12 which serve to hold thefuse cartridge in position. The outwards deflection of the tab portion 9of each connector is limited by engagement of the turned end 10 with thebar portion 11 to prevent overs tressing of the spring tab portion 9.

A pair of further connector passageways 23 is formed in the floor ofcavity 15.. These passageways may contain further plug connectors.devoid of the fuse contact portions, which may be commone d torespective fuse connectors by commoning conductive strips mounted in thehousing. In this way, the

fuse 14 may be connected in a plurality of circuits.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and otherdesirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasizedthat the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown anddescribed herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not asrestrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. A fuse connector comprising a sheet metal electrical contact parthaving a longitudinal axis, an integral body at one end of said contactpart inclined outwardly away from said longitudinal axis of said contactpart, said body having a floor and sidewalls defining an open channel, aresilient tab portion struck from said floor at a position adjacent saidcontact part, said tab portion extending substantially along saidlongitudinal axis of said contact part and having a free end remote fromsaid contact part, said sidewalls being joined remote from saidcontactpart by a bar portion in alignment with the free end of said tabportion to limit deflection of said tab portion away from saidlongitudinal axis of said contact part upon insertion of a fuse endportion into said body through said open channel in a directiongenerally at right angles to said longitudinal axis of said contactpart. I

2. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contactpan isformed as a plug contact.

3. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contact part isformed as a socket contact. 7

4. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said resilient tabportion is formed with an aperture for receiving an end portion of acartridge fuse.

5. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said tab portion isturned to present an edge opposed to said bar portron.

1. A fuse connector comprising a sheet metal electrical contact parthaving a longitudinal axis, an integral body at one end of said contactpart inclined outwardly away from said longitudinal axis of said contactpart, said body having a floor and sidewalls defining an open channel, aresilient tab portion struck from said floor at a position adjacent saidcontact part, said tab portion extending substantially along saidlongitudinal axis of said contact part and having a free end remote fromsaid contact part, said sidewalls being joined remote from said contactpart by a bar portion in alignment with the free end of said tab portionto limit deflection of said tab portion away from said longitudinal axisof said contact part upon insertion of a fuse end portion into said bodythrough said open channel in a direction generally at right angles tosaid longitudinal axis of said contact part.
 2. A fuse connectoraccording to claim 1 in which said contact part is formed as a plugcontact.
 3. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contactpart is formed as a socket Contact.
 4. A fuse connector according toclaim 1 in which said resilient tab portion is formed with an aperturefor receiving an end portion of a cartridge fuse.
 5. A fuse connectoraccording to claim 1 in which said tab portion is turned to present anedge opposed to said bar portion.